"He just ran into the back of somebody's yard," the caller told the 911 operator.

Another sighting was reported by a police officer about two hours later in the Oxford Road area of Raleigh.

Officers canvassed the area near Joyner Elementary School for hours in an attempt to figure out the bear's location.

However, Ann May with the state's Wildlife Commission said seeing a bear is nothing new for our area and says there is nothing to be afraid of.

"They're non-aggressive and shy by nature and that is a message that we're really trying to educate and get out to folks in central North Carolina who are not used to seeing bears," she said. "Enjoy it at a distance and know that it is not reason to panic. It definitely is not a 911 situation. The bears in Central North Carolina, this black bear in Raleigh today, it's what's referred to as a transient bear."

May said the animal was probably following a creek bed.

"They'll figure their way out of a city," she said. "It happens over and over again in different places."

Residents are urged to be alert, and to stay clear of the animal if they see it.